In February 1964, a young English rock’n’roll quartet called the Beatles arrived on U.S. shores, kicking off a musical explosion that took the country by storm — and reverberates to this day. PBS revisits the time when the nation’s airwaves grooved to the swinging sounds of London in My Music: The British Beat.

Britain’s first lady of song, Petula Clark, hosts this all-star reunion of some of the best of the British Invasion and performs her #1 million-seller “Downtown.” Beloved duo Peter and Gordon reunite for the first time in nearly four decades to perform their hits “World Without Love” and “I Go to Pieces.” Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent of the Zombies bring back the British psychedelic pop sound with the Brit-rock anthems “Time of the Season” and “She’s Not There.”

“This is an amazing night of amazing music from across the pond,” exclaims TJ Lubinsky, creator and executive producer of the My Music series and Sirius Satellite Radio program host. “To feel the emotions as Gerry & the Pacemakers ‘Ferry Across the Mersey’ and the Tremeloes take us back into the coffee houses of the 60s with their classic ‘Here Comes My Baby’ is an awesome, touching tribute to some of the most familiar and timeless songs of the 20th century.”

The British Beat includes numerous #1 Billboard hits such as “Wild Thing” by the Troggs, “To Sir With Love” by Lulu and “Game of Love” by Wayne Fontana, original lead singer of Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, who also reprises the favorite “A Groovy Kind of Love.”

Additional highlights include the earthy, feel-good declaration “Do Wah Diddy” from Paul Jones of Manfred Mann, the pulsating “Needles & Pins” by Mike Pender’s Searchers and the R&B-flavored “Go Now” from Denny Laine, original singer for the Moody Blues. Procol Harum presents their ethereal classic “Whiter Shade of Pale” and Eric Burdon of the Animals offers another Brit-rock anthem, “The House of the Rising Sun” — based on an American folk ballad.

An archival performance of her 1966 worldwide smash “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” pays tribute to the late Dusty Springfield, while vintage clips from “The Ed Sullivan Show” provide era-defining moments from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

The British Beat commemorates a vital period of popular music that remains relevant and cherished today, as dozens of ageless rockers revisit a musical revolution. A CD set and DVD of the program, with additional performances, are available from the local PBS member station.

Airing on KNPB:
• Sun Mar 2, 11:00pm
• Sat Mar15, 8:00pm
• Wed Mar 19, 9:00pm

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